Autobiography, Letters and Literary Remains of Mrs Piozzi (Thrale): With Notes and an Introductory Account of Her Life and Writings

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Cambridge University Press, 2013 M05 6 - 398 pages
Highly educated and accustomed to intellectual society, the writer Hester Lynch Piozzi (1741-1821) became a close friend of Samuel Johnson through her first husband, the brewer Henry Thrale. Her second marriage, to the Italian musician Gabriel Mario Piozzi in 1784, estranged her from Johnson, but following his death she published her groundbreaking Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson, anticipating Boswell's biography. In addition to publishing essays, memoirs, poetry and travel diaries, she was one of the first women to produce works on philology and history. Edited by the essayist Abraham Hayward (1801-84) and incorporating correspondence and other writings, this two-volume work offers a valuable insight into the life of an important woman of letters and how she was perceived by contemporaries and posterity. Reissued here is the enlarged second edition of 1861. Volume 1 is devoted to Hayward's biographical essay and critique of her works.

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Contents

Origin and Materials of the Work 37
3
Introduction of Johnson to the Thrales 1114
11
His Household 2124
21
Blue Stocking Parties 2728
27
Nature of his Intimacy with Mrs Thrale
35
Her Personal Appearance and Handwriting 4142
41
Her Behaviour to Johnson
48
Popular Estimate of her
58
Unkindness of Daughters
197
Objections to him as an Inmate 199 _204
205
Character of Daughters _ _
212
Correspondence with Johnson 217_219
219
Journey with Daughters
225
Feelings on Piozzis Return and Marriage
226
Objections of Daughters Lady Keith 233236
233
Correspondence with Johnson as to the Marriage 36243
243

Her Account of Conversations there 6167
61
J ohnsons Politeness
68
Thrales Embarrassments and J ohnsons Advice 7 274
74
Johnson fond of riding in a Carriage but a bad Tra
80
Tour in France 9091
90
Campbells Diary 99102
99
His Account
108
Madame DArblay as an Inmate 124126
124
Proposed Tour 131132
131
His Will
137
Mrs Montagu Mr Orutchley 143144
143
Her early Impressions of him 152153
152
J ohnsons Regard for Thrale 155156
155
Johnson at Streatham after Thrales Death
161
Fears for Johnson
167
Was Johnson driven out of Streatham
176
Johnson and Mrs Thrale at Brighton 186_188
189
J ohnsons Feelings and Conduct 249251
249
Miss Sewards Account of his Loves
256
Lord Macaulays Summary of Mrs Piozzis Treat
262
Projected Work on Johnson 269270
269
H Walpole
286
Her Thoughts on her Return from Italy 299302
299
Miss Sewards Impressions of her and Piozzi
307
Publication of the Letters 307_38
313
The Sentimental Mother
319
Mrs Piozzis Theory of Style
325
Anecdote of Goldsmith
336
Remarks on the Appearance of Boswells Life
342
Adoption and Education of Piozzis Nephew after
349
Illness and Death of Piozzi 355356
355
Anecdotes
361
Character of Mrs Piozzi Moral and Intellectual 369375
369
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